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Boston Globe

State Senate approves legislation banning cell phones public schools

While such a ban has support from Speaker Ron Mariano Mariano, a former school teacher, has previously said he recognizes phones 'are a distraction in schools but also understands concerns raised by some parents worried about how to keep in contact with kids during emergencies,' according to a Related : Advertisement Supporters of the ban said curbing cell phone use by children and teens is needed to combat bullying and cyberbullying. Cutting down on screentime allows them to spend more time developing stronger personal relationships and community ties, advocates have said. Advertisement Excessive cellphone use has also been connected to adverse mental health outcomes, like depression, health experts have said. State Senator John Keenan, a Quincy Democrat, told his colleagues student cell phone use also has contributed to their participation in online sports betting, and banning the devices would help cut down young people's access to sports betting during the day. Keenan said a high school intern in his office showed him how easy it is for someone who is underage to access a sports betting platform. The intern 'shared with us what many others have shared, and that is that sports betting is really running rampant among underage people, particularly in our schools,' Keenan said. In 2024, Pew research Lewis said 33 other states have laws or policies in place to ban, limit, or discourage cell phone use in schools. And roughly half of US states already ban cellphones in schools, he said, including New York, Florida, and Texas. Several local districts, including Brockton, Fall River, Ipswich, Methuen, and Newton, already have rules in place restricting student use of cellphones. The Senate bill carves out several exceptions to the ban for students, according to the measure. They include children who need devices as part of special education services; those who need it for medical reasons, like treating diabetes; and for students who need to leave school for internships or other off-campus programs where a cell phone is needed. Advertisement Schools must also have a method for parents and guardians to reach students, or for children to contact their parent or guardian. The Senate bill would require schools to have policies in place before the start of the 2026-27 school year that block access to phones. The state's K-12 education department would also have to provide guidance to the schools and districts on the creation of such policies, according to the bill. Health experts like former US surgeon general Vivek Murthy have warned heavy social media use by young people is associated with 'significant mental health harms,' and most users interact with those platforms on their phones. Several local districts, including Brockton, Fall River, Ipswich, Methuen, and Newton, already have rules in place restricting student use of cellphones. John Hilliard can be reached at